GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, has launched its latest 8 series range of overclocking motherboards, designed to push the latest Intel 4th generation Core processors to new heights.

GIGABYTE Z87X-OC and GIGABYTE Z87X-OC Force motherboards debut a number of exclusive new and improved features that are designed specifically to help enthusiasts and overclockers get the most performance from their hardware, as well as the most enjoyable OC experience possible.

"We've tried to evaluate the experience of overclocking from as many different angles as possible in order to adapt features and design considerations that not only make it as easy as possible to push your hardware to its absolute max, but also make sure you are having a great time doing it," commented Hicookie, Chief Overclocking Evangelist, GIGABYTE Motherboard Business Unit. "As an overclocker myself, these are the motherboards I would rely on to break world records."

GIGABYTE Z87X-OC Force

The GIGABYTE Z87X-OC Force delivers a sublime OC experience without compromising on features. Support for maxed-out 4-way SLI and Crossfire graphics configurations is paired with an incredible 16 phase digital VRM for the CPU and memory. The GIGABYTE Z87X-OC Force truly is peerless and utterly ruthless.

GIGABYTE Z87X-OC

Designed specifically for the purpose of breaking OC records, the GIGABYTE Z87X-OC offers unique and exclusive OC features that have never been seen on a motherboard before. Giving pro and enthusiast overclockers the edge on LN2, the GIGABYTE Z87X-OC sits at the bleeding edge of technical possibility, pushing the outer limits of performance.

Exclusive GIGABYTE Overclocking Features:

OC Ignition

Hitting the OC Ignition button allows continuous, uninterrupted power to all the motherboard's connected drives and system fans, without powering the CPU. This is useful in 'cold bug' situations when you need to heat the CPU to a bootable temperature, but want the system fans to keep spinning, reducing moisture build-up. By Maintaining SATA power, OC Ignition prevents damage to your drives as well as data loss for i-ram users. OC Ignition is also useful for testing water cooled systems and case mod demos without powering up the system.

OC Brace

OC Brace allows extreme overclockers and system testers to safely install up to four graphics cards in an open case or test bed without risking PCIe slot damage or preventing cards from not showing up in the OS due to poor contact with the PCIe slot. OC Brace is a simple and elegant way to give robust installation support to full sized graphics cards in extreme multi-GPU configurations, including LN2 benching with cumbersome GPU pots that need stable, solid installation base over extended periods.

OC Touch

GIGABYTE OC Touch includes a range of easy to use buttons and switches featured exclusively on GIGABYTE OC motherboards.

Extreme Graphics Support: The GIGABYTE Z87X-OC Force is prepped for maxed out 4-way SLI and Crossfire configurations with a PLX IC, giving each slot 8 lanes of PCIe gen 3.0 from the CPU.

The GIGABYTE Z87X-OC takes a different approach, with optimized support for Premium 4-way Crossfire configurations utilizing additional PCIe lanes direct from the Intel Z87 PCH.

OC PEG: OC Peg adds auxiliary power to the PCIe slots of your motherboard, improving system stability in extreme configurations. This is especially useful in power-hungry 4-way CrossFire configurations.

OC PCIe Switch: Overclockers can manually turn on or off each PCIe lane of the motherboard, allowing users to effortlessly remove graphic cards from the system without the hassle of having to physically remove them. This is especially convenient for VGA overclocking on LN2 and water cooled systems.

OC Connect

OC Connect positions two USB ports on the near side of the motherboard facing the overclocker. This makes it easier to save data, flash the BIOS or install software in open bench testing platforms. Designed for extreme overclocking or system pretesting before installation inside a case, OC Connect addresses scenarios where accessing the rear panel IO can be an inconvenience.

Gold Hardware

15µ Gold Plated CPU Socket

GIGABYTE 8 Series OC motherboards come equipped with a 15µ gold plated CPU socket, which means that enthusiasts can enjoy absolute reliability and longevity for the CPU socket overtime, without having any concerns for corroded pins and bad contacts.

Gold Plated DDR and PCIe Slots

GIGABYTE 8 Series OC motherboards are equipped with gold plated DDR3 slots and PCI Express slots. This guarantees total reliability and longevity for your memory, graphics cards and motherboard, no matter how many times you switch them out.

Gold Plated Solid Power Connectors

GIGABYTE 8 Series OC motherboards feature 100% solid CPU and 24-pin ATX power connectors which are much more robust than standard connectors. These connectors are also gold plated, providing superior conductivity and signal transmission than standard implementations. Gold offers superior reliability and stability, being resistant to metal corrosion caused by frequent use overtime.

Exclusive GIGABYTE 8 Series Features

GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 5 Plus

GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 5 Plus debuts on GIGABYTE 8 series motherboards, building on previous generations of Ultra Durable design philosophy with a range of features and component choices that provide record-breaking performance, cool and efficient operation and extended motherboard lifespan.

All IR® Digital CPU Power Design

GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 5 Plus motherboards use industry-leading PWM controllers and PowIRstage ICs and from International Recifier. These components are 100% digital, offering incredible precision in delivering power to your 4th Generation Intel processor. Designed from the ground up to complement each other, these industry-leading PWM controllers and PowIRstage ICs from IR are optimized for cool and efficient operation, allowing users to get the absolute maximum performance from their next PC build.

New GIGABYTE UEFI DualBIOS with Dashboard Mode

Take control of how your BIOS looks and feels with the new GIGABYTE UEFI DualBIOS, a fully customizable user interface that allows you to adjust overclocking and performance settings in real-time. With smooth mouse control and shortcuts for fast navigation, the new and exclusive Dashboard Mode gives users complete access to all data related to your motherboard, including CPU, graphics and memory clocks, temperatures and voltages.

New GIGABYTE App Center

GIGABYTE App Center gives you easy access to a wealth of GIGABYTE apps that help you get the most from your GIGABYTE motherboard. Using a simple, unified user interface, GIGABYTE App Center allows you to launch all GIGABYTE apps installed on your system. The GIGABYTE App Center is also customizable with three attractive color schemes.

A revised and updated GIGABYTE EasyTune offers a simple and easy-to-use interface that allows users to fine-tune their system settings, adjust system and memory clocks and voltages in a Windows environment with comprehensive system-related information displayed without the need to install additional software.

Durable Black Solid Capacitors

GIGABYTE 8 Series motherboards integrate the absolute best quality solid state capacitors that are rated to perform at maximum efficiency for extended periods, even in extreme performance configurations. This provides peace of mind for end users who want to push their system hard, yet demand absolute reliability and stability. With ultra-low ESR no matter how high the CPU loading, these exclusive capacitors also come in customized jet black, exclusively on GIGABYTE 8 series motherboards.

GIGABYTE Advanced Fan Control

GIGABYTE 8 series motherboards provide up to 9 strategically placed onboard system fan connectors, including a CPU OPT fan that can be connected to a water pump and configured for continuous full speed operation. The new GIGABYTE EasyTune app also offers comprehensive system fan controls with individual airflow settings provided by a dedicated digital controller.

GIGABYTE On/Off Charge 2

GIGABYTE On/Off Charge technology is revised and upgraded on GIGABYTE 8 series motherboards, with comprehensive and enhanced charging support for a broad range of devices that include those that run both iOS and Android. Users can enjoy fast AC charging over USB on mobile devices, even when the PC is turned off.

High ESD Protection for USB and LAN

GIGABYTE 8 series motherboards raise the bar in terms of protecting your system, providing advanced electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection for both your Ethernet LAN and USB ports, both common sources of ESD-related failures. Each LAN and USB port is paired with a dedicated protection filter that can withstand high electrostatic discharges, protecting your system from common electrical surges and even direct lighting strikes.

Intel® Gigabit LAN

The latest GIGABYTE 8 series motherboards come equipped with Intel Gigabit LAN networking, a popular choice with gamers that features several performance-enhancing features such advanced interrupt handling to help reduce CPU overhead and Jumbo Frame support for extra large data packets.

Gaming Headphone Amplifier

GIGABYTE 8 Series motherboards feature a high capacity headphone amplifier which is able to drive 600Ω loads, allowing gamers to enjoy a fuller range of dynamic sound with crisper details and less distortion when using high quality professional headphones. Featuring a wide bandwidth, low noise, high slew rate and low distortion, GIGABYE 8 series motherboards are ideal for professional audio usage and gaming enthusiasts.

GIGABYTE, headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, is known as a global leading brand in the IT industry, with employees and business channels in almost every country. Founded in 1986, GIGABYTE started as a research and development team and has since taken the lead in the world's motherboard and graphics card markets. On top of Motherboards and Graphics cards, GIGABYTE further expanded its product portfolio to include PC Components, PC Peripherals, Laptops, Desktop PCs, Network Communications, Servers and Mobile Phones to serve each facet of the digital life in the home and office. Everyday GIGABYTE aims to "Upgrade Your Life" with innovative technology, exceptional quality, and unmatched customer service. Visit http://www.gigabyte.com/ for more information.

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